Half an hour later, the silent exercise session finally came to an end.
Many officials only felt refreshed all over—clear-minded, relaxed, their backs no longer aching and their legs no longer sore.
Chu Heng felt especially relieved, the burning sensation in his “lower region” had faded significantly, and his whole body felt lighter.
When he looked at Feng Zeyan, his eyes carried genuine gratitude.
This Northern Frontier King… was practically their guardian of health!
However, Feng Zeyan’s thoughts had already drifted far away to her expanding business empire.
【These old men are in terrible shape.】
【Looks like my fitness business has huge potential!】
【I should open several gyms in the capital—call it the “National Fitness Center”!】
【Then a “Muscle Factory” specifically for men who want to build muscle!】
【And a “Fairy Shaping Studio” for ladies, focusing on elegant body sculpting!】
【Those who want to gain muscle lift weights; those who want to lose fat run; those who want shaping do yoga and Pilates!】
【Oh right, I need a VIP membership system too—monthly subscriptions, with discounts for full-year prepayment!】
【I’ll also collaborate with “Human World Emporium” to print health science books!】
【“Say Goodbye to Constipation, Starting with a Plate of Spinach”, “The Self-Cultivation of Hemorrhoid Patients”, “The Emperor’s Hair Growth Secrets”, “From Beginner to Master in Kegel Exercises”… guaranteed bestsellers!】
【Later I’ll send Prime Minister Lin, who hasn’t had a bowel movement in eight days, a deluxe edition of “100 Ways to Defeat Constipation” at a friendly price—998 silver!】
【Give Lord Chu a “Hemorrhoid Recovery Guide” plus a professional cushion set!】
【As for the emperor… cough… the “Imperial Hair Growth Manual” must be sent secretly, no one else can know!】
The officials below listened with eyes wide open.
Prime Minister Lin was already mentally instructing his steward to guard the entrance of “Human World Emporium” after court ended.
998?
Buy it! Absolutely buy it!
As long as it solved eight days of constipation, not even 9,998 would be too expensive!
Chu Heng was even more excited—cushions! He needed cushions!
【But honestly, look at my brother. After just a few days of training with me, his whole demeanor has changed.】
【He used to be handsome but weak-looking, all scholarly and fragile.】
【Now he stands tall, walks with purpose, and yesterday I even saw faint abdominal muscle lines when he took off his clothes!】
Feng Zeyan’s ears instantly turned red.
Sister… can you not think things like that!
The whole court can hear you!
【The aesthetics of this Great Xia dynasty are really a bit problematic—they all like weak, sickly scholars.】
【One by one, pale and fragile, like they might not live past sixty!】
【To strengthen the nation, we must first strengthen the people. To strengthen the people, we must first strengthen the body! Fitness is the foundation of revolution!】
【Once I open gyms and shift public opinion, I’ll completely transform this unhealthy aesthetic!】
【I want all men in Great Xia to have abs like my brother!】
【And all women to be like me—able to tear apart scum men and kick away mistresses!】
The system chimed in at the right moment:
【Host, your vision has really expanded!】
【Of course! This is a national cause!】
【Once everyone becomes strong and healthy, productivity rises and combat power increases—who would dare invade us?】
【And with fewer illnesses, medical expenses drop and the treasury saves money too!】
【A win in every direction!】
This passionate “grand blueprint” exploded like thunder in the Golden Throne Hall.
“Strengthen the nation by strengthening the people, strengthen the people by strengthening the body!”
This sentence struck everyone like a heavy hammer.
On the dragon throne, Xiao Juechen had already lost interest in watching the drama.
He was completely struck by those words.
Strengthen the nation by strengthening the people…
He thought of border troops—many young soldiers were thin and weak, needing long periods of recovery before they could fight.
He thought of court officials, weak and frequently falling ill, often requesting leave despite being in their prime.
If a nation’s strength did not come from the physical and mental strength of its people, then what did it come from?
This girl always managed to hit the core of governance while joking around.
What kind of Northern Frontier King was she?
She was clearly the national treasure of Great Xia!
A long-formed idea finally solidified in his mind.
Xiao Juechen took a deep breath and said solemnly:
“I have something to announce.”
His voice was not loud, but it reached every corner of the hall clearly.
All whispers stopped instantly, and everyone turned toward the dragon throne.
“Recently, I have observed the court—decadent, sluggish, and lacking vitality.”
“Civil officials are physically weak, military generals are lax in training. If this continues, how can we defend the nation?”
“Therefore, I hereby decree: ten days from now, at the Royal Western Hunting Grounds, an Autumn Grand Hunt shall be held!”
“All civil and military officials of rank six and above must participate!”
“Anyone absent without reason shall be treated as guilty of deceiving the emperor!”
The moment he finished speaking, the hall erupted like a hornet’s nest.
The civil officials immediately groaned in misery.
Several elderly ministers turned pale; one nearly collapsed on the spot, only to be supported by others.
Ride horses and shoot arrows?
That was basically asking for their lives!
Their old bones could barely handle walking fast—how could they ride?
Prime Minister Lin, who had just seen hope in the “spinach cure,” now felt the world go dark.
Eight days without bowel movement—and now he had to ride a horse?
One jolt and it might become fatal!
Chu Heng’s legs weakened again, the burning pain in his lower body feeling even more vivid.
Ride a horse?
He couldn’t even sit properly right now!
Military generals, however, were excited, eyes shining.
Finally, a chance to show their strength!
All these years of suppression by the civil officials—finally, an opportunity to prove real ability!
Feng Zeyan’s eyes lit up instantly.
【Autumn hunt?!】
【Isn’t this basically a giant outdoor team-building event + mobile gossip field?!】
【I love it!】
Xiao Juechen looked at the miserable civil officials and then at the excited Feng Zeyan, a meaningful smile forming at the corner of his lips.
He would use this hunt to kick off a nationwide movement of physical training in Great Xia.
Let these pampered officials truly experience what “strengthening the body” means!
“Court dismissed!”
He rose with a sweep of his robes, dragon robe fluttering.
Behind him remained a hall full of mourning officials and excited military generals.
Prime Minister Lin supported his waist as he shuffled away painfully.
Spinach—he must eat a whole plate tonight!
Chu Heng was already thinking about finding a traditional doctor for internal medicine; external treatment alone was not enough.
As for Feng Zeyan, she was already planning what snacks to bring to the autumn hunt…
Outside the Golden Throne Hall, the sun shone brightly.
An autumn hunt that would change the fate of Great Xia was quietly taking shape.
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